Brattleboro Union High School - Colonel Yearbook (Brattleboro, VT)

Page 15 text:

CLASS HISTORY Freshman Year AME an afternoon of discovery and then our first day C when we realized that we had actually become a part of the Brattleboro High School, even if we were at the time a slightly ignorant part. We had our doubts, for we expected the usual mistakes in the traffic officers' fund of knowledge. On the following Wednesday, we flocked to the main room and sincerely regretted not bringing telescopes to ascertain the few seats which were so kindly left us. Though no shoehorns were available, we finally man- aged, with the aid of Mr. Chaffey, to squeeze into the allotted space. I mustn't forget the tremendous applause with which we were greeted. We hadn't realized that we were quite so popular. Of course, we overlooked the chance remarks which could be heard on the side. First on the program, a welcome was given by Bob Burnham, president of the S. A. S., after which Mr. Miller arose and disclosed to us his theme song, so familiar to the upperclassmen, How come you due me like you dues ? We now wonder why they didn't reply with an- other little tune, such as Tormented! Next, our attention was turned to Rick Graves, who reminded the boys of a little straining business which needed to be attended to on the following Friday. This day proved to be very convenient, for we suspect that some of our more brilliant Q ?j sophomores came up from under with a handful of supper, meaning Friday fish. That evening the braver members of our class blos- somed out socially and ventured to the Community Build- ing to listen to a broadcast presented by the Seniors. The fact that a member of our own class was a part of it made us quite proud, indeed. The heroes of the afternoon were then invited to push back the chairs, after which dancing followed. In spite of the competition from the Legion Drum Corps below, we enjoyed it and felt properly initiated for the year. Next was the business of class ofiicers, so a meeting was held and, as a result, Paul Burnham was chosen president, Betsey Hall, vice-president, Sylvia Brocking- ton, secretary, and Charles Whitney, treasurer. Bettie Tasker became Freshman Dial Reporter, while Harriette Wilbur and Robert Goodwin, believing in Art for Art's Sake, were drawn into cutting upl' for the Dial Board. We learned that Mr. Johnston becomes attached to Freshmen particularly, on the one hour or indefinite standard, and that Coach Draghetti has a little bite now and then during athletic contests. Last, but not least, we heard this about Mr. Boylston's popularity as related by that genial gentleman. Quote, When Daniel Webster came to Stratton Mountain, four thousand New England- ers came to see him. When I went there last Saturday, the only things that came to see me were two hedgehogsf' There were many budding young athletes branching into their particular interests. l'Stan juscen started in early to become the only freshman member of baseball. On the hockey squad was Henry Merrill, while the track stars included Paul Burnham, William Holden and Fred Nims. Not to be outdone, the girls also went into sports in a big way. Many took a swing at hockey, some being very proficient in making goals-for the other side! Bettie Tasker, Peg Douglas and Dot Frizzell distinguished themselves in this sport, and in basketball, Peg Douglas gained the squad. We had a good number on the general honor roll and several succeeded in the superstandard, the latter smart- iesi' being Harriette Wilbur, Bettie Tasker, Fred Nims, john Heald, Betty Stevens and Grace Weaver. As the last days of the year appeared, we found our- selves looking forward to the time when we would be- come sophomores, and would no longer have to be dubbed Freshmen -Beirey Hall Sophomore Year Log of B. H. S. '36 trying to sail above the high Cs. Course chartered by Captain Fredyums Henrickson, B. H. S. N. g First officer, Dorothy johnson, Second ofiicer and Log Keeper, Margaret Douglas, Purser and Quarter- master, John Heald. Sept. 6. We left home port in the gray of dawn, ex- skipper Burnham aboard as pilot, with all hands in strong spirits. Sept. 7. We encountered our first strong head winds and homework assignments as forecasted by the Weather Bureau. Sept. 21. Having challenged the innocent newcomers, we cleared the decks for action, with a little well-aimed advice from the veteran Chamberlain. Sept. 22. The jumping pressures of our arterial barometers assured us that something was about to happen. Un- aware of the impending deluge, we beheld the Fates toss their double-faced coin into the ether. Heedless of contrary advice, we steamed toward our astonished adversaries, who gave way rapidly, with surprise. We came, we saw-we should have conqueredlu but we fell into a water trap placed directly in our path. We had received our baptism of defeat. In the highest degree of saturation and humidity, we drizzled our way into dry dock to make the necessary repairs. Oct. 18. Black thunderclouds of fear approached as we realized the short time before the first marking period.

Page 14 text:

I2 TH E DIAL liams had a practical knowledge of shorthand. In some way he found the opportunity to hear the speeches of Sir Edward Coke in the Star Chamber and reported them in shorthand. With boyish impulse and enthusiasm he sent the transcripts to Sir Edward. The great novelty of the act made a deep impression upon Sir Edward Coke, and as a result, he sent young Williams to the Charterhouse School and later to Pembroke College. Three years after the completion of his college course he came to America. There are two reasons why the knowledge of shorthand aided Williams in his career: first, it established in his mind the principles which he taught to his followers and which have added much to the peace and happiness of the world, second, it gained him the educational prepa- ration that aided him to make effective the principles in which he believed. Another man who accomplished much in this line of endeavor was Thomas Gurney, born in England in 1705, who started out in life as a clockmaker but later became a schoolmaster. While still a young boy, he purchased at a sale a copy of a book on shorthand by William Mason. He became deeply interested in this subject, and after mastering the system, he began to take down sermons when he was sixteen. After he had made a few improvements and changes in Mason's system of brief writing, Gurney published a system of his own. He had a lucrative reporting business at the Old Bailey Court, which descended through several generations from father to son. Since Gurney believed that a widespread knowledge of this system of writing would bring into existence competitors for his business, he charged from half a guinea to one guinea for his book, a price greatly beyond the means of the people. The Gurney reporting business brought in great fortunes to the firm. This family continued to be associated with this field of writing for several generations. The credit for the first recognition of shorthand by the courts goes to Thomas Gurney. In 1738 he began reporting unofiicially in the Old Bailey Criminal Court, and ten years later was appointed Ofiicial Shorthand Writer, the first person ever to be appointed to this post in any court. In 1770, at his death, his son joseph suc- ceeded him. In 1806, William, son of joseph Gurney, was informally appointed the Shorthand Writer to the two Houses of Parliament, and in 1813 this appointment was ofiicially confirmed. The story of the Gurney reporting business leads to the story of john Robert Gregg, founder of the Gregg system of shorthand which is now used in almost every school, college, and office in America. john Robert Gregg was born in Ireland, in 1867, the youngest child of the family. He Hrst became interested in shorthand when, as a child, he saw a stranger reporting a sermon in church. His father was so impressed with the idea of taking down the exact words of a speech that he insisted that all of his children should study the subject. The older brothers and sister received excellent marks in all subjects but in shorthand, with which they could make no headway. On Robert Gregg's second day at school, an event happened which was destined to change his whole life. He was caught whispering with a classmate. The teacher, for punishment, brought the two boys' heads together so violently that one of Gregg's eardrums was injured. On account of his poor hearing, he received low grades in his subjects and had to endure the humiliation of being compared with his more brilliant brothers and sister. He grew up under the impression that he was a hopeless dunce. As he found that all of the family had taken shorthand and had all failed, he resolved to attend to this study until he had succeeded in it. When Gregg was fifteen his parents procured him a position in the ofiice of a brilliant attorney, with the hope that their son would also become a lawyer. This position gave the young man just the opportunity that he needed. Since his employer spent most of his time out of the ofhce, Gregg had much opportunity to study shorthand and to compare the different systems. He combined letters from the different methods in an attempt to make a system of his own. Morning, noon, and night he thought of nothing else. At the age of nineteen he had prepared the alphabet of the present Gregg style of shorthand which is in use today! Two years later he had five hundred copies of his alpha- bet printed. After the death of his sister, one year later, he moved to Liverpool, where, on the tenth fioor of an old wooden structure, he opened his first school for instruc- tion in the writing of shorthand. For several years he taught his system, but in the end, his small savings ex- hausted and his hearing partially gone, he started for Boston. He sold his school for two hundred dollars, and on his arrival in Boston he had one hundred and thirty dollars left. With Mr. Rutherford, a firm friend, he opened a school which was attended by a number of students, among whom were writers and teachers of other systems. In order to earn more money, Mr. Gregg took charge of classes at an evening school, which had been established with the idea of keeping boys off the street, and of giving them some useful thing to do in the evening. Here, he taught the boys Gregg shorthand. Many years later he met one of these boys, now a brilliant lawyer in Boston. Mr. Gregg's first Christmas in America was a happy one, notwithstanding the fact that he and Mr. Rutherford possessed exactly one dollar and thirty cents with which to buy their Christmas dinner. The meal was carefully planned and ten cents was left for carfare-but a waiter helped him on with his coat-and away went the ten cents! Better times were not far distant, however. Two years later, in 1895, Mr. Gregg moved to Chicago, where, with a capital of seventy-five dollars, he started a school. On the opening day he received a caller desirous of find- KConzinzzed on page 421

Page 16 text:

Ill- Tl-IE DIAL Oct. 25. To make up for lost time, many shipmates tried to bring their salaries up to normal by working hard during the last week, since we are paid according to our accomplishments. Many received general and super bonuses. Nov. 30. We were given our first short shore leave, ac- companied by much feasting not uncommon to this season. Dec. 3. Most of the crew survived the festive ordeal, and came aboard without the aid of stretchers. Dec. 21. Reaching port for a short stay, we toiled weary miles to spend our last few well-worn bills on our dear loved ones back home. fan. 3. Admiral Wiggin had a hard time reassembling . his fleet after such an enjoyed stop. Gossip reports that Burton Gregg went on a gingerale binge. Jan. 23. We finally reached our destination, and began unloading the cargo of knowledge picked up along the route. Each man was paid according to the cargo he carried. jan. 29. We weighed anchors and began the return voyage, loading our holds and fo,c'sle with bales of kinetic facts of education. Feb. 16. We entered the harbor of a small island to rest for a week, and to recharge our energy batteries. We also refueled with sea food on Freddie Nims's advice that it honed the edge of one's brain. fThis item was unknown by the class immediately following us.j Mar. 23. We entertained the Senior officers and crew with a dance, to introduce better feeling between classes, and to repay them for their good advice at the rope pull. june 5. Having been warned of an approaching typhoon by the weather man, we started making ready. The days sizzled by unnoticed, 'till we started to awake to the fact that the storm was scheduled in a couple of days. Durward Chamberlain, with an abyss in his abdomen, was scared nearly sick at the thought of exams. With much cramming and battening of hatches, we awaited the storm. After a wild scramble of eggs, we counted out only a few casualties. june 20. At last assembly we collected report cards, and in a joyful daze, that comes from a realized hope, we imagined ourselves occupying the second deck alone with the Seniors. We had reached home port again. The following members are highly commended: johnny Heald, the only sophomore on either semester super honor roll, Bettie Tasker, sole dial boarder, Kerm Baker, track, Harold Blodgett, baseball, Georgie Broutsas, base- ball, Paul Burnham, track, Danie Chase, tennis and hockey, Ed Dunklee, hockey, Jackie Emery, tennis, Bill Holden, track, Stan juscen, football, basketball, and baseball, Bill Lindsey, baseball, Pepper Martin, football and track, Henry Merrill, hockey, Bob Moore, football, hockey, and baseball, George Sprague, football, and hockey, Beanie Tudor, basketball, Sylvia Brockington and Lucinda Hamilton, girls' basketball, and last, Bur- ton Gregg, on general principles. Since all those listed in sports are only the letterman, one can see how im- portant we were. Other classes will find difficulty in equalling that record. -Robert Chapin Junior Year Al1ashore! After two short blasts from the ship's whistle, we pulled away from the dock and steamed out into the foggy night. The whole trip was a foggy one for many of our fellow sailors, and many of them still seem to be in a haze. Suddenly, we were startled by a hair-raising com- motion. Turning, we looked through the saloon door-- there on the bar stood Mr. Leitsinger, leading the Rhythm Boys' jazz Band. In the corner, Snookie-Bunn Burnham was rolling to town on the drums, and Brownie,,' alias Bennie Goodman, was being mopped around the floor by his red-hot clarinet. Betsey White was helping Beverly Jennings hold down the heavy corner, and in spite of all of the off-tune sour notes and her diminutive size, our Betsey certainly has sax appeal. Durward Chamberlain was so wrapped up with his music that he let Carter Jones beat him through their theme song Bassology. Although it was a great victory for Carter, it took him three whole days to gain back the lost circumference of his solar plexus. After this, the music from the blaring tin horns became so dissonant that we thought we had interrupted a practice hour, so we left for the swimming pool to wash away our muddy rhythm. There, we found Guy DeLottinville still holding down the Freshie's side of the rope. Guy must be afraid of the water, or else he wants to join the Five Year club, whose motto, by the way, is UB. H. S. For- ever. Feeling a sense of emptiness in our stomach, we rushed to the lunch counter. We found that the new Student Council had been doing some dirty work and had placed officers at the entrances and exits. The pick and take system had been eliminated by a rail, which permitted only one person at a time. The new patrol officers, juscen, Mitchell, Burnham and Delling, placed on the outside deck, were ready at all times to protect the little Freshmen from the dangers of the cruel world. These officers deserve much credit for their ability to take mother's little monkey's from their nurses without a whimper from their infant mouths. Many of the sophs have changed their minds of wanting to be G-men, and now they want to possess the perseverance of Eric Delling, who is finding it difficult to work higher. From the deck, we went up into the control room and found out who was in charge of our ship. The skipper of our tugboat was none other than Fred Nims. Betsey White, his First Mate, was always ready to take the helm and to steer us on the straight and narrow path fthe path which most of the sophomores and freshmen have never